Impatiens plant named `Didi Scarlet`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant, and named `Didi Scarlet` is provided. `Didi Scarlet` is distinct in its scarlet colored fully double flowers, its early and free flowering, and its basal branched, compact growth habit.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofimpatiens, botanically known as Impatiens walleriana, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name `Didi Scarlet`, and is characterized bythe following combination of repeatedly observed traits:

1. Fully double flowers,

2. early flowering,

3. compact basal branching, and

4. free flowering.

Asexual reproduction of this cultivar by stem cuttings taken duringNovember, 1996, at Andijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar as herein described are firmly fixedand are retained through successive generations of such asexualpropagation, such reproduction establishing that the plant does in factmaintain the characteristics described in successive generations. Thefemale parent (i.e., the seed parent) was an Impatiens walleriana namedIN-1791-12 (unpatented) and the male parent (i.e., pollen parent) was anImpatiens walleriana named IM-795-3 (unpatented). The cross was made in1995 and the seedling was selected in 1996.

This new cultivar has been identified as Impatiens `Didi Scarlet`. Thenew cultivar is being marketed under the trademark name Double DiamondScarlet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograpicdrawings in full color, the colors shown being as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows a top perspective view of typical plants of the newcultivar.

FIG. 2 shows an individual bud and the upper and lower sides of flowerand foliage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following observations and measurements describe plants grownoutside in the field in Andijk, The Netherlands. Measurements wererecorded in August, 1997, on plants approximately 14 weeks old. Fullydeveloped organs were used for measurements and color descriptions,unless otherwise indicated. Color references are made to the R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, exceptwhere general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

`Didi Scarlet` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment andhorticultural practices, such as temperature, light intensity, daylength, fertilization and propagation procedure, without any change ingenotype.

Parentage:

Female parent.--Impatiens walleriana IN-1791-12 (unpatented).

Male parent.--Impatiens walleriana IM-795-3 (unpatented).

Propagation:

Type cutting.--Stem (internodal) cutting with two nodes and attachedleaves.

Time to initiate roots.--10-14 days at 70-75 degrees F. with a fullydeveloped root mass at 21 days.

Rooting habit.--Fibrous, branching, adventitious root system.

Plant description:

Form.--Upright

Growth habit.--Upright branching plant habit with upper leaves andflowers produced in whorls. When grown in a 4 inch pot for 10-12 weeksthe height is approximately 4-5 inches and the width is approximately 5inches.

Foliage description.--Leaves are simple. Lower leaf arrangement isalternate with upper leaves arranged in whorls of 5. Leaf shape is ovatewith acute apex and acute base. Leaf size is 4.5 cm×3 cm. Leaf margin iscrenate with ciliation. Leaf surface is glabrous. Leaf color is green.The upper surface is yelow-green group 147A. Under surface isyellow-green group 147B with greyed-purple mottling ranging from 182A to182C through 183D. Venation is pinnate 147A for the upper surface and147B for the lower surface.

Petiole.--Petiole length is 2 cm; and diameter is 0.2 cm: Color isyellow-green 147C.

Flower description:

Flowering habit.--Rooted cutting to full flowering plant in seven weeks.Indeterminate, flowering continuously. Flowers develop in the upper leafaxils.

Natural flowering season.--Flowers continuously throughout the year.

Flowers borne.--On pedicels which are yellow-green 145A and 3 cm long inclusters of 2-7 flowers with a peduncle color of yellow-green 145A andlength of 2 cm long.

Spur.--Short spurred; length is 3.5 cm; color is 161B.

Buds.--Buds are oval-shaped at first color 39A and 145C; size is 1.3cm×1.0 cm.

Quantity of flowers.--Floriferous. Each axillary cluster of 2-7 flowersdeveloping progressively from the leaf whorls so that buds as well asmature flowers are visible at the same time in large numbers.

Petals.--Number of petals 18-22, with all petals overlapping. Outerpetals average 2.5 cm length×2.0 cm width and inner petals average 0.7cm length×0.5 cm width. All petals are slightly cupped.

Flower color.--Upper surface: Red group 45C. Lower surface: Red group45D.

Flower size.--Approximately 4 cm wide and 4 cm long.

Reproductive organs.--No reproductive organs.

Disease and Insect Resistance

No known susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date.

Comparison with the Known Cultivars

When `Didi Scarlet` is compared to Impatiens `Fiesta Salsa Red`(unpatented), it is found that `Didi Scarlet` exhibits a more vigorousplant habit and is also more floriferous.

When `Didi Scarlet` is compared to `IN-1791-12` and `IM-795-3`, theparental cultivars, the instant cultivar has double flowers and theparental cultivars are both single flowering.

When `Didi Scarlet` is compared to co-pending U.S. Plant Patentapplication Ser. No. 09/078,642 for Impatiens `Didi Red`, the primarydifference is the color. `Didi Red` has flower colors of R.H.S. 53C and53D and `Didi Scarlet` has flower colors of R.H.S. 45C and 45D.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named `DidiScarlet`, substantially as described and illustrated herein,characterized particularly as to novelty by its fully double scarletcolored flowers, its early and free flowering, and its basal branched,compact growth habit.